5 Questions to Ask before Installing a New School Playground

When it comes to installing a new school playground, you have a lot of options available to you. It is important to gather as much information as possible to ensure that you have all of the information you need to make an educated decision. Here are five crucial questions that school administrators should ask before purchasing playground equipment for their schools to ensure that they get the best play structure to meet their needs.

Where are you going to install the playground?

The location of the playground is more important than many people realise and can have a major influence over the types of materials that you can use. For example, if your location is near the ocean, metal play equipment will likely rust very quickly due to the high levels of moisture in the air. Think about shade coverage as well. It can get quite hot here in Darwin, especially if the play structure will be in constant sunlight. You don't want any children to burn themselves on the fixtures, so you may need to include a shade cover in your budget.

Here at Hardy Landscaping, we use UV stabilisers in our play structures. These high-performance pigments are durable and bright, helping the play equipment to stay looking great for many years to come.

Do you have children with special needs?

All children deserve the right to play on playground equipment, regardless of if they have special needs. Because of this, you'll want to make sure that your play structure is safe for all children who will be using it. For example, if any children have hearing aids, certain plastic play equipment could cause static electricity that could damage the devices. Similarly, children who suffer from ADD or ADHD need to be able to do quiet activities from time to time. You'll want to ensure that you have quiet areas incorporated into the playground for when they need to take a break.

Do you want to include natural elements?

Natural elements are a huge trend in children's playgrounds these days. This is because incorporating elements of nature, like trees, grass and water, can help to stimulate children's growth and development. These elements can also look great in a playground, helping it to blend in better with the environment.

How many children will use the playground, and what is their age group?

Think about the ages of your current students. Children have different needs at different stages in their young lives, so you'll need a playground that is designed to be suitable for all who are going to be using it. Think about the future as well, because your program might grow in the future to accommodate more age groups, and you'll want the play structure to be suitable for them as well.

What type of surfacing do you want?

There are many different options available to you when it comes to play surfaces. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks, so you'll need to take everything into consideration. Think about the type of experience that you would like the children to have. Don't forget to think about the ongoing maintenance requirements, as you will need to continually care for your play structure going forward.

Trust Hardy Landscaping

Here at Hardy Landscaping, we can help you answer these and a number of other questions to help you narrow down your options. Above all else, building a safe playground for your children should be your top priority. We are proud to offer some of the highest quality play equipment in the world, so get in touch with us today to get started in choosing the right one for you.